Wells Fargo Launches Contactless Credit, Debit Cards

Wells Fargo Launches Contactless Credit, Debit Cards

In a press release, Wells Fargo said the new cards will enable customers to complete transactions quickly and with a single tap at millions of merchants and transit systems that accept contactless payments. Customers can still insert or swipe their cards or use their digital wallets for payments. Wells Fargo said it will enable customers to tap to initiate an ATM transaction at more than 13,000 ATMs around the country later this year. The ability to use a contactless debit card to “tap” and initiate an ATM transaction relies on near-field communication (NFC) functionality. It’s the same technology Wells Fargo introduced in October 2017. It also enables Wells Fargo customers to use a digital wallet to initiate an ATM transaction.

“At Wells Fargo, our goal is to make the payments experience as seamless as possible for our customers, which is why we are so pleased to launch contactless credit cards for simple tap-to-pay checkouts,” said Beverly Anderson, head of Wells Fargo Cards and Retail Services said in the press release. “According to Visa, contactless payments will soon be ubiquitous, with 78 out of the top 100 U.S. merchants (by transactions) currently offering the ability to tap-to-pay at checkout. For years consumers around the globe have been demonstrating great affinity for tap-to-pay cards and Wells Fargo consumer credit and debit card customers in the U.S. can now enjoy the same secure, expedited checkout experience.”

Wells Fargo said its consumer credit cardholders started receiving the cards with the contactless feature when opening an account this week. Existing Wells Fargo customers will receive the new contactless card when their current credit card expires. Wells Fargo will add it to consumer debit cards in the summer. Wells Fargo’s contactless card feature is built on secure EMV Chip technology, which is the same security used on contact EMV cards. Wells Fargo said in the press release that the contactless payment cards are part of the bank’s push to boost the convenience for customers and to embrace the latest technologies to make life simpler.